Hardy Preston White Jr
Military
Object Number - UPL 40010 - Hardy 'Red' Preston White Jr
Assigned to 524BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. 29 x combat missions. ETD
[Diary and photos accompany database form. ]On February 24, 1944 flew mission to Schweinfurt. On leaving target made slow turn to right and saw ground to air rocket coming at our aircraft. Came over right trailing edge and down between # 3&4 [engines. ] This was the only time I saw such a rocket. On March 4, 1944 the 379th flew with 41st Combat Wing to Berlin. The 8th AF was recalled, all but 41st Wing -- 31 B-17s went on alone to Berlin, were met at target by a squadron of P-51s. For this mission the 41st Wing received the Presidential Unit Citation.
Awards: DFC, AM (3OLC), WWII Victory, EAME, DUC.
Post war: Served in Korean conflict.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with

- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment

- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38225387
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer / Top Turret Gunner

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 20345931 / O-802191
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot; S-3 Officer
Aircraft

- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The widow maker

- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Sons of Satan
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 457th Bomb Group 751st Bomb Squadron

- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Whirlaway

- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Anita Marie / Mehitabel
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
Places

- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Springfield, Missouri | 3 November 1919 | Son of Hardy Preston Snr and Anna Faye [Gugel] White. |
Enlisted |
Oklahoma City, OK | 17 January 1942 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
Died |
Owasso, OK | 1 April 2009 | |
Buried |
Fort Gibson National Cemetery, Fort Gibson, OK | 3 April 2009 | Fort Gibson National Cemetery Fort Gibson, Muskogee County, OK |
Based |
Kimbolton | Assigned to 524BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
https://www.fold3.com/record/93325899-hardy-p-white
https://www.fold3.com/record/84800020-hardy-p-white-jr
https://www.fold3.com/image/150529014?rec=150529031
https://www.fold3.com/image/612893742?terms=hardy,white,preston
http://www.8thairforce.com/members/missionsflownby.asp?perIdentificatio…
http://www.8thairforce.com/members/missionsflownby.asp?perIdentificatio…
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/35611828/hardy-preston-white
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / self